Extension

In Kirtlington we went to look at my Mother's old bungalow, which has been extended. The old

 garage, shown in the picture below from 2007, has been replaced by another room, and the whole thing connected to the original house. Very nice.

Le Weekend

We drove down to stay with cousin Gill & Robert in the farm on the hill. Saturday we saw uncle Geoff at the nursing home where he is at the moment [he has vascular dementia.] Then on to Kirtlington to see Mother's stone and to have a walk around the village. Then a walk into Oxford through the Parks. Meal at Brill in the evening with Gill&Robert, Richard&Tonks, auntie Alison, Ro&Pete. Good weekend.

Bishop Wood

This shot of a pool in Bishop Wood got a lot more love than I expected at Open Studios. I nearly didn't show it but I am glad I did.

Acomb Clump

There is a little rise in Acomb, a couple of miles away, with a clump that feels a bit ancient. A favourite place.

Arty Too

And this is another of Rowan's shots from the trip. I like it.

Row row row ...

Rowan can take a good photo. This is from her rowing trip to Bordeaux with the University Rowing Team.

New York Stories

This is a shot of the Freedom Tower [built to replace the Twin Towers] reflected in another building. One of the joys of Open Studios is hearing stories and making connections with people catalysed by the photos.
A woman bought a copy of this for her father who lives in New York. He was a brilliant chemist who came to the rescue when no one could find a concrete that would stabilise the degraded ruins and foundations of the twin towers area. His daughter told me how he set up a mini cement mixer in his apartment and set about using his chemical knowledge to develop the necessary formula. This he did, and with scant concern about his patent rights, let the formula be used to support the building I have photographed here.
An honour to think he shall have it hanging in his flat soon.

YOS Update

I sold this photo today at Open Studios; it is of the neolithic Rudston monolith in the Wolds. It is the largest standing stone in the country.

Cuckoo

Danielle and I went over to Robert and Julia in Ilkley, had some supper then went to All Ears at a local cafe where variously curated music was being played - included The Fall which was a bit of an ordeal; good evening though.
This is the cuckoo clock that they have in their kitchen; I like it.

First Shorts Day

Yesterday was the official first shorts day. So good to see double digits on the thermometer. So over the years FSD switches from March to April, but this year is the latest it has ever been.

2003 March
2004 March
2006 April
2010 April
2011 March
2013 April
2015 April
2017 March
2018 April 18th

More from the Azores

Azores Again

A Buzzard flies high above Furnas crater lake in the Azores.

Isle of Dogs

Nice to have Rowan back for a few days before she returns to Lem tomorrow. We all went to see Isle of Dogs [the movie not the place] today; really enjoyed it. This selfie is on the way back at the station.

YOS 2

This shot of Rowan standing reflected in front of Budapest Parliament building also got a lot of good feedback. Including from someone who had lived in Budapest and so was able to give me background info on the location.

YOS 2018

The first weekend of Open Studios is over. Knackered. We had over 500 visitors which is great, but seeing as they have all come to see Jo's and my work, that is a lot of talking. Sales were pretty good, and as usual there was incredible feedback and possible productive partnerships. Rowan is home from rowing in Bordeaux, so we are all able to relax this evening.
This photo went down really well, it was the first time I have shown it.

Barlow

Barlow Common was torn apart by industrial use for 100 years. Now it is reverting to a new kind of stability. Cared for enough to allow it to grow carelessly. The soil seems poor which makes for a sparse landscape which includes these banks of thistles.

Malvern

1985, living in Droitwich (we all mistakes). Friends Jo & Yvonne came out with their two daughters. They lived in Covent Garden and were, it is fair to say, freaked out by steep hills and sheep poo. One of the first times I thought that children were quite fun.

Hitching

Doing a bit more scanning of old photos in between the relentless preparation for York Open Studios [starts on Friday evening]. This is from 1981 when I went on a solo hitching trip across Europe. I met up with many interesting people including the young couple who gave me this bottle somewhere in Switzerland.

The Rains Came

The rain has been unrelenting for what seems like weeks. So the Moor is as wet as it ever gets. These ponds are all in hollows that are usually dry. As soon as I get the camera out Milo seems to manoeuvre into shot.

Master Chef

A woman we know in York was second [I think, didn't watch] in Masterchef 7 or 8 years ago. She now cooks at home for paying guests. So 13 of us went for a band+ meal on Friday. The food was really good, and we had a great time.

Swim

I am not a great swimmer, but it was hard to resist the thermal pool in the gardens in the Azores. Muddy, warm, bizarre: it was great.

Azores 6

Our last full day we walked on the ridge that leads to the highest point on the island, Pico da Vara at 1100 metres. Just great to be walking in the sky looking down at the Atlantic all around.

Azores 5

We walked right around this crater, it includes four separate lakes and is a great experience. The weather was perfect for us, dry, around 18 on most days, and with little wind.

Azores 4

The hotel has some amazing gardens that include thermal swimming pools and all sorts of palms etc
This morning Danielle and I walked through them before breakfast, the steam in the middle distance is from the volcanic pools.

Yesterday one of Danielle's colleagues took us all on a slow Buddhist walk though the gardens which was great.

Azores 3

Second days walk took me through woods and along ridges down to a harbour on the south coast where I got a cafe duplo in a bar.
There is barely a sniff of tourism here, it is a working village and a great place to be. The path then took me along the coast [no roads, far too steep] and up into the forest, before a long descent back to Furnas.

In the evening I ate with Danielle and her work colleagues at a restaurant where the food is slow cooked in the thermal pools. Sounds good, but it seemed to mean everything looked grey and dull.

Azores 2

Whilst Danielle conferenced I walked high up above the crater lake near the hotel. It is a beautiful place. I saw two other walkers, so not totally alone but not far off it.

Azores 1

Danielle has a high reputation work-wise. Which means she gets invited to various international seminars etc. The one last week was for people from both sides of the Atlantic [Europe, US, Chile etc]. So the obvious place was to have it in the Azores; right in the middle of the Atlantic. Equally obvious was that I needed to accompany her.

It is an amazing place, lush verdant, temperate, totally unsettled until the Portuguese discovered it, now home to Friesan cattle, pineapples, tea, oranges and not that many tourists.

We flew from Stanstead having driven down there [not something I thought I would ever write but trains proved impossible] on a civilized Ryan Air flight [there is another surprise]. We met up with six of Danielle's co-attendees at Ponta Delgada airport then taxied to the hotel at Furnas.

The Azores are volcanic islands on the same plate-junction as Iceland to the North, so thermal activity is common. Furnas has open caldera pumping out sulphurous steam constantly. A little disconcerting and certainly different as you wonder around the town.

2018

And here we are, up to date. Spent last week in the Azores with Danielle, who had a conference there. That is a glass of Pico wine from one of the islands in my hand.